Maybe because you live in the remnants of a pitiful rump of a great empire that was destroyed twice in part by imperial hubris, and a country that seems to be striving to make it an even three?

~Q

Ah, steady! This latest edit is even more 'disinformed' than the original post.

But more accurate, though in keeping with the subject I did leave out mention the inept policies and autocratic tendencies of all three Muscovite entities. Foreign wars were merely the catalyst. Someday Putin or one of his successors will test his "the near abroad" theory in the wrong country and make it a trifecta.

And for the record, if you look at my timestamps you'll note that I made that edit right after posting it, and hit "submit" the same minute you responded. Damn your un-communist efficiency!

~Q

Tsk tsk, again. You seem to have been reading Philip Longworth's Russia's Empires. If you haven't, then you should, as it contains the same pernicious ideas about Russia's many rises and falls. He's a very naughty writer who has made it onto the list...

Tsk tsk, again. You seem to have been reading Philip Longworth's Russia's Empires. If you haven't, then you should, as it contains the same pernicious ideas about Russia's many rises and falls. He's a very naughty writer who has made it onto the list...

You'll love him! Full of all sorts of untruths (not slanders in this case, being published books : ) and plenty of invective heaped upon Russia. The whole country. Not just the leadership. Pity about there being no truth whatsoever, sniff sniff. But it didn't seem to bother the writer...